A Beautiful Semi-Automatic Espresso Machine that is often overlooked is the Brasilia Mini Classic. The Italian manufacturer Brasilia made their first espresso machine in 1977, and the Brasilia Mini was born in 1985. Since then it has been upgraded to include advancements in technology with features like the " G Rossi" control to monitor boiler water levels.

A customer called me a while ago and said, "I want a Brasilia Mini Classic Espresso Machine." This person never asked anything about the machine; not how big it was, what the boiler material was, or any of the usual questions I hear before a customer buys a machine. They simply replied, "I have had a Brasilia for 18 years and it was time for another".

After I took the order I thought I should take another look into this machine. Sure, I knew it was a heat exchanger machine, had an E61 brew-group, a 1.2 liter nickel-plated copper boiler, copper tubing for greater heat retention, and the usual specifications, but I was intrigued to know why this customer had a machine that lasted so long.

As I started to think about this, I noticed we had just installed the Brasilia Mini Classic Espresso Machine in our break room for us to test and use daily. Now any machine that stands up to the abuse it gets in our break room should be awarded a testimonial plaque because only the truly great machines survive here.

I must tell you it never missed a beat, and we really do not take care of the machines the way we recommend you do to extend your espresso machine’s life. A disclaimer here: Do not attempt this at home; we are professionals. I never burned my fingers while steaming, because I grabbed the well-placed rubber grip on the steam wand.

If you step back and just look at the machine you will notice how well it is constructed with a polished stainless steel housing and internal copper waterlines. Even the manual 3-way valve is heavy duty and constructed and designed to provide a long life of service. The excellent design characteristics don’t stop at the exterior. Superb engineering is also prevalent in the internal features of the Brasilia Mini Classic Espresso Machine further insuring long life; including the large particle filter attached to the fill tube to keep the 1.2-liter nickel-plated copper boiler from getting clogged. Another great feature is the magnetic float in the water reservoir that will turn the power off to the boiler’s heating element when the water is low. This is to protect the element from burning up due to low water volume in the boiler.

My favorite feature is probably one of the Brasilia engineers best ideas, the "G Rossi" control. The Brasilia engineers have custom designed this control system to last. The "G Rossi" controller sends less than ½ of an amp through the pressure stat. This prevents premature failure of the control due to electrical arcing when cycling on and off. The "G Rossi" control is also used to maintain the proper water level in the boiler and is mounted on a stainless steel plate away from the boiler. It will also turn the boiler off for safety if the reservoir or boiler runs out of water.

So after taking some time to look into what makes the Brasilia Mini Classic tick and putting it through some use, I have determined that if you are looking for an espresso machine that is well thought out and its design has been proven to last, I suggest you consider the Brasilia Mini Classic Espresso Machine. (Brasilia Video)